Age-related changes in ovarian function and morpholgy in Japanese monkeys

研究了日本猕猴（Macaca fuscata fuscata）卵巢功能和形态的年龄相关变化，并特别关注生殖衰老。试验1选用3 ~ 32岁非哺乳期雌性仔猪57头。采集至少一个繁殖季节的血液样本，检测血浆LH、雌二醇和孕酮浓度的变化。在实验2中，在繁殖中期给两组雌性(年龄在21岁以上的老年雌性（n=5）和年龄在8 ~ 12岁的成熟雌性（n=5）注射50 mg/kg的苯甲酸雌二醇。实验3对47例不同年龄的非哺乳期女性卵巢进行了组织学检查，这些女性从新生儿到大于等于bb0 ~ 28岁不等。在实验1中，5 - 20岁的动物卵巢功能和繁殖率保持良好，绝经发生在27岁左右，接近生命的尽头。在实验2中，雌二醇治疗引起老年和成熟女性的LH激增。实验3中，随着年龄的增长，每切片原始卵泡的数量呈指数下降，约16岁后仅观察到少量原始卵泡。在4 ~ 16岁时，初级和第三次卵泡数量增加，然后逐渐减少。约40%的三级卵泡终生为网状卵泡，其大小与发育中的三级卵泡相似。这些结果清楚地表明卵母细胞耗竭是日本人生殖衰老的关键因素

Age-related changes in ovarian function and morphology were studied in captive Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata fuscata), with special reference to reproductive senescence. In experiment 1, a total of 57 nonlactating females at ages 3 to 32 yr were used. Blood samples were collected for at least one breeding season, and changes in plasma concentrations of LH,estradiol and progesterone were examined. In experiment 2, two groups of females (older females, n=5, over 21 yr old, and mature females, n=5 aged 8 to 12 yr) were injected sc with 50 mg/kg of estradiol benzoate during the midbreeding season. Inexperiment 3, ovaries of a total of 47 nonlactating females of various ages ranging from new-borm to <greater than or equal>28 yr old were examined histologically. In experiment 1, ovarian functions as well as fecundity rates were well maintained in the animals aged 5 to 20 yr. Onset of menopause occurred at around 27 yr of age, approaching the end of the life span. In experiment 2 estradiol-treatment elicited an LH surge in both old and mature females. In experiment 3, numbers of primordial follicles per section decreased exponentially with the advance of age, and only a few primordial follicles were observed aftr about 16 yr of age. The numbers of primary and tertiary follicles increased from ages 4 to 16 yr, and then dicreased gradually. About 40% of tertiary follicles were atreticfollicles throughout life, and their size was similar to that of developing tertiary follicles. These results clearly indicate that depletion of oocytes is akey factor in reproductive aging of the Japanes